Jimmy Kimmel was not fired from his ABC late-night show; instead, ABC suspended "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" indefinitely starting September 17, 2025.

What Happened

The suspension followed Kimmel's controversial comments on the September 15, 2025 episode, where he criticized Republican responses to the shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. FCC Chair Brendan Carr threatened action against ABC and Disney, prompting the network to pull the show amid backlash from broadcasters. Kimmel's contract runs through May 2026, and sources confirmed it was a pre-emption, not termination.

Timeline of Events

  • Sept 15, 2025 : Kimmel makes remarks on air about Kirk's shooting and political blame.
  • Sept 17, 2025 : ABC announces indefinite suspension; Trump claims it was due to "poor ratings."
  • Sept 18-22, 2025 : Show off air; fans protest, Democrats call it censorship.
  • Sept 23, 2025 : Kimmel returns to host, per reports.

Key Players| Role in Controversy 17
---|---
Jimmy Kimmel| Host; criticized "MAGA gang" reactions
Charlie Kirk| Conservative shot; incident trigger
Brendan Carr| FCC Chair; pressured ABC
Donald Trump| Called it ratings issue

Rumors vs. Reality

Past rumors of Kimmel being fired (e.g., 2025 July hoax) were debunked as satire-fueled misinformation. This event trended heavily on forums like X and Reddit, blending gossip with free speech debates—some fans saw it as Trump-era media bullying, others as overdue accountability. No full cancellation occurred; the show resumed quickly.

Broader Context

This fits a pattern of late-night hosts clashing with the Trump administration, following CBS ending Stephen Colbert's show in July 2025 (officially for finances). As of January 2026, Kimmel remains on air, with his style adapting to stay relevant amid shifting viewership.

TL;DR : Suspension from Sept 17-22, 2025—not fired; back on air soon after.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.